Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before getting started.
What Is a Life Manual?
A Life Manual organizes the practical information someone would need to manage your life if you were suddenly unavailable. It brings together essential systems, contacts, records, and instructions in one structured place, so a trusted person can act immediately without guessing.
How Is This Different From Estate Planning?
Estate documents determine who receives assets after death. A Life Manual explains how things actually work, so someone else can step in and keep them running. It focuses on continuity, not distribution, and it applies whether you are absent for a week, incapacitated, or permanently gone.
Who Is This Service Designed For?
This work is for people whose absence would create confusion or disruption for others. Detail-carriers who manage systems everyone else depends on. Family anchors who want their loved ones to grieve without an administrative crisis. Business owners whose operations require an explicit handoff plan.
Is This Only for Business Owners?
No. The Vault and Archive tiers are built for individuals and families. Business Continuity documentation is included only in the Legacy tier, designed specifically for owners whose business operations require an explicit succession plan.
Do You Store My Personal Information?
No. The system uses a client-controlled Secure Drive. Your information stays entirely under your control. Legacy Architect RVA does not retain, view, or hold any of your private details. This is the zero-knowledge standard.
Does the Life Manual Contain Passwords or Private Credentials?
No. Credentials are never stored in the manual itself. The system references the secure tools where credentials live, such as a password manager, and identifies where access authority is located. The manual tells your successor how to find access, not what the access is.
What Does 'Zero-Knowledge' Mean in Practice?
Zero-knowledge means Legacy Architect RVA does not see, store, or hold any of your private information. Your documents live in your Secure Drive. We help organize the structure. You control what goes in, where it lives, and who can access it.
What Happens During the Engagement Process?
It begins with a private conversation to understand your situation and priorities. From there, the Life Manual is built section by section through structured sessions. Your Secure Drive stays under your control throughout. Most engagements are complete within 30 days.
What Is the Client Portal and How Does It Work? New
The Client Portal is your private, encrypted workspace where your Life Manual is assembled and delivered. Once your engagement begins, you receive secure access to enter information by section, track your progress, and communicate directly. Your completed manual is delivered through the portal and remains accessible there throughout your engagement.
What Kinds of Information Go Into a Life Manual?
A Life Manual covers digital accounts and access, financial institutions and assets, household systems and property operations, health and medical contacts, legal and estate documents, business operations (Legacy tier), and personal legacy wishes. Anything a trusted person would need to manage your responsibilities.
How Long Does the Process Usually Take?
Most engagements are complete within 30 days. The timeline depends on the complexity of your responsibilities and the tier selected. The process unfolds through structured sessions at your pace, not a rushed intake form.
Can the Life Manual Be Updated Later?
Yes. Annual review sessions are available for all tiers. Life changes, accounts move, contacts shift. The review keeps the manual accurate. Annual review fees are credited toward a tier upgrade if you decide to move up.